Box-stripping machine.



J. F. `WELLS & H. B. HARLOW.

BOX STRIPPLNG MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 11. 1911.

Patented De0.3,1912.

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BOX STRIPPING MACHINE. APPLIGATION FILED MAY 11, 1911.

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J. F. WELLS & H. B. HARLOW. BOX STRIPPING MACHINE. APPLICATION HLBDVMAY 11, 1911.

t1,046,355. Patena 1180.3, 1912.l

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J. F. WELLS & H. B. HARLOW.'

BOX STRIPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, 1911.

1,046,355, y Patented Dec. 3, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

1UNrrE-D STATES PATENr'oEF-ICE.

JAMES E. wELLs am) Hanny B.. HAELOW, oE ALToN, ILLINOIS, AssIeNoEs 'ro JOHN II.- MQPIKE, 0E ALToN, ILLINOIS.

BOX-STRIPIING MACHINE.

' Specication of I'ietters Iatent.

11, 1911. Serial N0. 626,541.

Application mea may To all whom 'it may concern: Be it known that we', JAMES F. WELLS andy HARRY' B. HARLow, citizens of` the- United' States, residing at Alton,- Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Box-Stripping Machines,

y,of which the following is a full, clear, and

- improved machine as necessary to illustrate the improved parts. Fig. 2 is a plan view' showing simply the parts on and below the conveyer table. Fig. 3. is an elevational View of 'certain `parts above the conveyer table. -Fig. 4 is a side view of the same partsillustrated in Fig. 3. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, illustrate details of construction.

This improvement relates to machines for applying strips to paper boxes intended to be used more especially for ship ing purposes.

The machine to be describedp is intended to apply an adhesive strip to the corner of a box, which box is presented to the applying mechanism in a folded form. The boxes are folded Hat so thatv thefour sides are formed in one sheet, and the edges of the sheet are brought into proximity in order that the adhesive strip may be applied thereto by our improved machine. The sheet forming the box is properly slotted to form the flaps to be folded and engaged so as to form a closure for each end of the boxes.

The object of our invention is to provide a simple machine for applying adhesive strips to the boxes of the character ydescribed and to cut olf strips to proper length forthe different sizes of boxes.

Other objects of our invention will appear in the course of our description, and be pointed out in the accompanying claims. We have shown our improvement as used in connection with a paper box feeding means; but it should be understood that thestrip applyingmeans could be used in other connections, and that the feeding mechanism to be described could also be used independently of the strip applying means if desired. Ve do not, therefore, desire our improvement to be confined to the art of manufacturing paper boxes.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates prised ofa top 2, sides'3 and legs 4. At one side Iof the table 1 and journaled within the sides 3 is a main shaft 5, which shaft is driven from any suitable means by a pulley 6 fastenedv at one end. This shaft 5 extends transversely of the table, and has a series of sprocket wheels 7, 8, 9 and 10 keyed thereto. Sprocket wheel 7 is applied to the shaft 5 outside the sides 3 of the table 1, and'sprocket'wheels 8, 9 and 10 aredis- Patented Dees, 1912.

i generally a conveyer table which is comtributed across the table between the side walls 3 thereof so that sprocket 8 is near one wall, sprocket 10 near the other and sprocket 9 substantially centrally located between the two. On the opposite end of the table from shaft 5 is suitably mounted the shaft 1l having sprocket wheels 12, 13 and 14 fastened` thereon, which are positioned opposite sprockets 8, 9 and 10 respectively. A conveyer chain 15 is passed from sprocket 8 to sprocket 12 and through'fa groove 16 within the table top 2. Similarly a sprocket chain 17 is passed between sprocket gears 9 and ,13 within the groove 18 in the table top, also a chain 19 is passed between sprockets 10 and 14 and through a groove 20. On the table top at suitable intervals a strip 21 is attached by screws or otherwise to chains 15, 17 and 19, which strip 21 bears on the top of the table to pass longitudinally over the table. A guide block 22 is adjustably connected to strip 21, said blockl being formed with a groove having opposite projections 23, adapted to engage in opposite under-cut grooves 24 in the sides of the strip 21 so'that the blockmay slide along the strip21, and be held in adjusted position by means of setscrcws 25.

Mounted on the outside of the table side 3 is 'a stud shaft 26 in' anysuitable manner. This stud shaft has a sleeve 27 rotatably and loosely mounted thereon, and three i diate the shafts 26, and 32 to form a support 110 50 provided with a stop67 to engage with guide fora ard strip 39 positioned vunder chains.

36 an ltripping block 40, and'chain 37 with a trip- 37. -Chain 36 is provided wit-h a.

ping block 41. The length of the chains 36 i and 37 is equal to the length of chains 15, '17

- 49, for the shaft 45, and between thesejournal bearings is mounted on the shaft 45 ay roll 50. This roll coperates with-a roll 51 adjustably mounted within the table top 2 to be adjusted toward and from the roll 50. The shaft 45 is driven from shaft v5 by means of a crossed belt 52.

In the upper portion of the hanger 42 is mounted in bearings 53 and 54 an oscillatory shaft 55. This shaftis moved in one direction through an arm 56 havin a plate member 57 attached at one end an extending below the to of table'2 to one side thereof to be engage bythe stop 40 on chain 36,

and is moved in the opposite direction" through a spiral spring 57a fastened to the shaft 55. at one end and to the bearing 54 at the other. 'At one end of the shaft 55, op osite the arm 56, is also loosely mounted a guide arm 59. This arm has two extensions 60 and 61 from theshaft 55, and is provided i with a curved guide way 62 through which the strip to be pasted is adapted to pass and .the lower portion of this curved guide-way extends to a point-in proximity to the roll when moved about the shaft 55. Upon .the top member 60 of. arm 59 is slidably mounted a clamp block 63, which moves in guideways 64 with one end of the same in proximity to the guide way 62, and the other extending over the shaft to be enga ed by a lug 65, which lug is mounted on co lar 66 fa'st on the'shaft 55. The clamp block 63 is way 64, and a spring 68 is fastened to the side of the slide block and to a vpin on extension to normally cause the clamp block to remain in retracted position. away from the adhesive strip 1n the guide way'62. The

' arm 59 `is formed with a divided hubto embrace .the sides of the collar 66 on the shaft 55 (see Fig. 4). Al lever 69 is rigidly fixed at one end to the shaft 55 adjacent the outer hub of the arm 59, and the forward end 70 of said leveris provided with heads against which the extension 60 of Ithe arm' 59 is adapted to engage.' The overhanging arm support 42 is also provided with a bearing 71 for a stud 72 upon which is rotatably' mounted a strip supportinreel 73,. T11181 reel is prevented from too. ee rotation by means of a collar 74 enga'gin lwith afspring 75 the tension of which is a justed throng a well lmownY means 76. 'Also clam ed 1n position on the stud 72 is an arm 77 aving Ia gluide roll 78 at its extremity. The guide .support for a sponge or other adhesive applylng device 87.'l race 83 is provided 4with a projecting stop member 87 which is adapted to be engaged withthe clamp block 63 when moved upward about the shaft 55.

The roll or strip of paper tobe attached to the box is mounted on the reel 73, and the paper placed under roll 86 against the adhesive applying device 87, up over roll 78, down against a guide roll 82 and through a guide way 62 to the end thereof.

The overhanging arm 42 adjacent the roll 50 is provided with -extensions 88 within' which is journaled a shaft 89 extending through the oppositely arranged bearing 90 in the extension 88. This shaft has av collar 91 attached, and a spiral spring 92 is mounted on the shaft 894 and between the bearing 90 and collar 91 to normally hold a tripping collar 93 in en agement with bearing 90 on the side opposite from the spring 92.,A Coperating with the vtripping collar '93 is a tripping lever 94 pivoted 'at 95- to va suitable bracket support 96, the end of the lever 94 being shaped to extend within the path of movement of block 41v on chain' 37.A A tension spring 97 is fastened to the endof the lever 94 and to table top 2. The end of lever 94 is adapted to be positioned in front of the side.93 of tripping collar 93 to hold the spindle 89 in dotted line position of Fig.` 5 against the action of the spring92.

The portion of the overhanging arm 42, which is adjacent the side 3 of the table, is provided with a projecting cast bracket 98, in the extremity-of which is journaled shaft 89. Fixed to this cast bracket is an addi,- tional bracketv support 99 to which is `-attached a pawl carrying plate 100 having a curved pawl 101 pivoted thereto at 1 02, the curved end of the pawl 103 engaging normally a lug 104 on the plate 100. The pawl 101 has an opening 105. A fiat spring 106 is 1 attached to the plate 100 and bears against the side of the pawl 101 to retain the pawl in engagement with the lug 104. A pin 107 extends from the shaft 89 and passes adjacent the lug 104 so that as the shaft is moved longitudinally the pin will engage the pawl 101 to move it laterally against the spring 106. When the shaft 89 moves in the opposite direction the pin 107 rides along the curved surface of the pawl 101 until it reaches the opening 105 when it drops throu'h this opening to its normal posltion against the lug 104. By this operation, during the oscillation of the shaft 89, in one direction, it is moved laterally to operate the knife to be described.

Adjacent the roll 50 and in advance thereof is positioned on shaft 89 a block 108 to which a cutting blade 109, with a serrated cutting edge, is fastened. This blade coacts with a stationary cutter 109 attached to members 46 andl 47. In advance of the cutter is positioned a presser 110 which is supported 1n any suitable manner from the arm 44, as by a bracket- 111. On top of the presser 110, and extending adjacent the stationary cutter 109 is positioned a strip guard or deiiecting piece 112 preferably in the form of U-shaped piece of wire with several spring wires bearing against it as shown in Fig. 9. 4

Adjacent the arm 43 as attached to the top of the table 1 is a bracket 113 to which is pivoted at 114 a lever 115 of crescent shape, one end of the lever being in the path of movement of lever 56, and the other end in position to engage the side 93 of collar 93.

An air cushion 116 is connected to lever 56 and to the fixed arm 42 in any suitable manner. j

The operation of our machine will now be described.

A paper box being properly slotted and folded is placed in position a ainst the strip 21 and guide 22, the box being folded flat with the adjacent edges to be united, by an adhesive strip, on top. The boxes are advanced by the conveyer or feeding mechanism, between the rolls 50 and 51, and simultaneously through operationv of the arm 56 theshaft 55 is oscillatedl to move the guide way '62 into proximity to the roll 50. A portion of the adhesivestrip extends from the tguide 62 under the roll 50 and is -applie to the box across the adjacent ununited edges thereof. At the proper time, that is, when the end of the box or any position desired is passing under the roll, the knife 109 is moved into engagement with the strip to sever it by means of a shear cut due to the combined oscillatory and lateral movement of the shaft89. When boxes of different lengths are acted upon the strips of adhesive material are necessarily of diiferent lengths andthe timing ofthe strip guiding means and cutter must be changed. To provide for this the sprocket gears 28, 29 and 30 are made adjustable, and the time of operation of the tripping blocks 40 and 41 can be controlled in this manner.- The strip guide 62 is moved in one direction by the action of the arm 69 against the under side of the extension-60, that is, they move the guide to its upper position against the stop 87. The arm 69 engages the lower extension 61 to move the arm 59 in the opposite direction to posit-ion the lower endy of the strip guide 62 beneath the shaft 89 adjacent the roll 50, and when so positioned, the end of said uide strip bears upon and depresses the de ecting member 112. Dur-ing this latter movement, and before the adjacent screw engages the extension 61, the lug 65 acts upon the slide block 63 to cause its end to engage the adhesive strip .passing through the guide 62 to clamp 'it within the guide. Afterward the screw 70 engages the extension y61 to move the guide 62 and thereby feed a'portion of adhesive strip from the reel 73. This movement of the shaft 55 is produced by means of lug 40 engaging arm. 56. The opposite movement of shaft is produced by the spring 57 and the first action is to move the lug 65 `releasing the clamp block 63 and then allowing the end of the arm 69 to engage the bottom of the extension 60 to move the guide Way 62 Without pulling on the adhesive strip, the strip not being fastened in this movement.v

The shaft 89 operating the cutter 109 is actuated by means of lug 40 striking lever 56 which in turn engages and moves lever 115, and this lever, by bearing against the collar 93, moves the shaft 89 laterally so that the cutter 109 is in cutting position, the trip 94 being moved by the spring 97 to engage and hold the collar 93 with the shaft 89, as shown in dottedline position in Fig. 5. The lug 41, on chain 37, strikes the tripping lever 94 to move it against the action of the spring 97, which allows the shaft 89 to move laterally, due to the action of the spring 92. During thislateral move- Vment the pin 107 on the shaft rides on the pawl 101 to oscillate the shaft 89, rto a slight extent. The cutter 109 is thereby given both a lateral and an oscillatorymovement and the lateral movement is discontinued by the pin 107 falling through the slot 105 in the pawl 101. When the -strip guide 62 is moved downwardly to its limit of movement, its lower end engages and depresses the deecting (piece 112 and after the cutter 109 has acte to cut the gummed strip of tape and the strip guide moves upwardly, the pressure upon the delecting piece 112 is released and the same moves upwardly a slight distance, thereby elevating the end of the tape and' straightening out the end of the tape which has a tendency to bend downward and to la over the edge of the plate 110 when the 'fe or cutter moves downwardly and engages said tape. Thus the severed end of the .tape projecting`l from the lower end of thestrip guideis elevated slightly and in this position is ready to move for- .Wardly in the next operation. The air cushion-'connected with the lever 56 prevents the spring 57 from returning the guide way 62 to its upper position in too quick and abrupt a manner.'

We are aware that minor changes may be made in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various'elements of our improved machine without departing from the spirit of our invention, the scope of which is set 4forth in the accompanying claims. We claim:

1. In a device of the character' described,

a box feeding means,a ystripapplying means, a strip severing device,means for operating the feeding' means and means for operating the strip applying means and severing device, said latter means being timed to move the strip applying means adjacent the box as the box is'passing and to sever the strip before the boxhas passed the strip applying device.

2. In a device of the character described, a table, a conveyer operating to move over the table, a bracket supported by the table, a strip guiding means pivoted in said bracket, a feeding roll mounted within the bracket and means for automatically. movl ing the stripl guiding means adjacent the feeding roll and retracting the guiding means.

v3. In a device of the character described, an operating shaft, a feeding means operated 4from said -shaft, a strip applying and guidingmeans, means for moving said strip applying and 'guiding means adjacent the feeding means, meansfor severing the strip vand means, comprising continuous chains havingtripping blocks thereon, for operating to move the strip applying means and strip severing means.'

4. In a device of the' character described, acontinuous conveyer -having guide strips mounted thereonat intervals, a feed roller operating' above they conveyer, a strip feeding and applying device movable into posi-l tion adjacent the feed roller and above the conveyer, `a strip severing device and means formov-ing the strip lapplying device andl operating the strip severingdevice, com- -prising chains having tripping blocks there- .on, the'length of said chains being the same as the llength of the conveyer between the guiding strips.

5. In a device of the character described,

a table, a continuous conveyer traveling over Y saidftable, an operating shaft for said conveyer, .astrip Aapplying device mounted above saidconveyer, means for movingsaid strip applying `device adjacent a feed roll and two cooperating feedrolls' oneabove and the other below theconveyer, thelatter f l being adjustably mounted. v .A

6. In a devicel of the character described,

a table,a continuous conveyer having guide strips mounted at intervals thereon A'posiv shaft therefor, a strip applying device mounted above the conveyer, a severing de-" A tioned to move over the table, an operating`7fblocks positioned on saidchains, said chains I equaling length thel length of the conveyer between adjacent guiding strips.

7. In a device of the character described,

a table, a continuous conveyer 'having-guide' strips mountedat intervals thereonfpositione'd tomove over the table,vv an operating shaft therefor, a strip vapplying @device mounted above the conveyer, a guidell block adjustably mounted on ythe guiding stripsga severing device yand means for operatingsaid strip applying device andlstrip severing device comprising adjustable sprocket gears, chains operated on said sprocket gears and tripping blocks positioned on said chains, said chains equaling in lengthv the length of the conveyer between the adjacent guiding strips.

8. Inra devicey of the ,character described, a table, a bracketmounted thereon, a'ishaftl in said bracket, a strip applying device loosely mounted on said shaft and means for operating `said strip applying device comprising a lever fast on the shaft adapted to engage the strip Vapplying device to move it in both directions.

9. In a device of the character described, a table, a bracket mounted thereon, a shaft journaled in the bracket, av strip feeding and c applying device loosely .mounted on i said shaft, a lever fastlonthe shaft to op- -erate the strip applying device, a' clamp block mounted on the strip'applying device and means on the shaft -vfor .moving the clamp block to clamp the strip within' the f strip applying device.

10. In a device of the characterdescribed, a table, a bracket mounted thereon, a shafty rotatably mounted on the bracket, a strip guiding and applying` device loosely ymounted on said shaft comprising two arm extensions from thel shaft anda Aguide Way at' the extremity thereof and an arm fixed to'v the shaft positioned betweenthe arm extensionsto engage withy either and move the strip applying device when the shaft` is oscillated. y

11. In a device of the character described,

a table, a bracket mounted thereon, ashaft rotatably mounted o n thej bracketfa feed roll mounted on the bracket, support for a roll of tape rotatably mounted on the bracket, a tape o1" strip feeding and applyf,

ingedevice loosely mounted on the shaft comprising a guide way for the strip, meansV for clampin the strip within the guide way and. a lever ast on the shaft adapted to engage the strip applying device to move the same in opposite directions.

12. In a device of the character described, a bracket, a shaft journaled on the bracket, a strip applying device loosely mounted on the shaft comprising arms extending from the shaft and a curved strip carrying guide connected to the ends of the arms; a clamping 'block slidably mounted on one of the arms, a lug fast on the shaft adapted to operate said clamp block and an arm 4fast on the shaft adapted to operate the strip applying device in opposite directions.

13. In a' device of the character described,

i a bracket, a shaft journaled on the bracket,-

a strip applying device loosely mounted on the shaft comprising arms extending from the shaft and a curved strip carrying guide connected to the ends'of the arms, a clamping block slidably mounted on one of the arms, a lug fast on the shaft adapted to operate said clamp block, an arm fast on the shaft adapted to operate the strip applying device in opposite directions and a stop to engage the strip applying device to hold it in normal position.

14. In a device of the character described, a table, a bracket supported thereon, a shaft journaled on the bracket, a strip applying guide loosely mounted on the shaft, an arm xed to the shaft adapted to move the strip applying guide in opposite directions, a lever on the shaft and a tripping block. operating below the table to move the lever and thereby the strip applying guide.

15. In a device of the character described, a table, a bracket mounted on the. table, a shaft journaled on the bracket, la strip applying device looselymounted on the shaft, a lever fixed on the shaft adapted to move the strip applying device in opposite directions, a spiral spring fast to the shaft at one end and to a fixed part at the other, a lever a table, a bracket mounted on the table, a

shaft journaled on the bracket, a strip applying device loosely'mounted on the shaft, an arm for operating the strip applymg device in opposite, directions, a lever on the shaft, an air cushion attached to the lever andmeans for oscillating the lever to move the strip applying device.

18. In a device of the character described, a table, a feed roll, a strip applyin device, a strip severing device, a presser an a strip elevating means comprising a resilient member attached to the presser.

19. In a box strip machine, a box con'- veyer, a strip-applying means mounted for swinging movement above the conveyer and adapted to move the end of a gummed strip into contact with the surface of the box, a strip-severing device, means for operating said severing device, means for operating the conveyer and means for actuating the strip-applying means, said actuating means being timed to move the 'applying means adjacent the box at the time said box is passing beneath the applying means.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aix .our signatures in the presence of two witnesses, this 6th day of May, 1911.

JAS. F. WELLS. HARRY B. HARLOW.

Witnessesz OSCAR W. ULRICH, J. O. WELLS. 

